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Mandy had a small towel draped modestly over her breast as she nursed, and it puzzled Keira until she saw the two other children still asleep on the double bed behind her Boys, both of them, with hair as blond as Mandy’s That must be why she’s covered up—in case the boys wake up The pink-and-yellow outfit on the dark-haired baby in Mandy’s arirl

Keira could norandom bits of data into a clear picture than she could help breathing Three children in six years, she thought, re what Cody had told her about Mandy and Ryan Callahan That’s some serious cohtened her mood immeasurably

Mandy sly up at Cody, who quickly introduced them Then she adjusted the towel and deftly switched the baby to her other breast “Sorry about this” She indicated the nursing baby and gave Cody and Keira a rueful look that held only a trace of e to wean Abby, but we left in such a rush last night I didn’t have time to pack any formula or baby food” Her face turned troubled “Did Ryan tell you what happened?”

“Not all of it—not yet—but enough” He moved away from Mandy’s side and headed to the kitchen area to pour hilad

“He didn’t tell ht her breath, but went on “We were already on the way here before he told ave hi a secret from me, after he promised” She stopped, a hurt expression on her face, and then started again “Don’t be like hi who he is—it’s the way he’s made But you’re not like him Don’t keep me in the dark Not this time”

Cody sed coffee frorimaced, and Keira wasn’t sure if it was in response to the coffee or Mandy’s stateht hand briefly touched his left shoulder, and Keira re to a bullet hole, Mandy and a lack of trust Mandy had shot Cody, and she knew it hadn’t been an accident She only knehat Trace had told her—that Cody and Mandy had been best friends growing up, but that she’d shot hi she was protecting Callahan But there was more to the story A hell of a lot more Keira was sure of it

Chapter 6

The thud of boots on the front porch warned the the same When Callahan walked in the front door followed by McKinnon, Cody relaxed and dropped his hand He quickly downed the rest of his coffee and glanced at the pot on the stove, unsure whether he wanted another cup or not

The twoon and beneath the kitchen table beside him, then turned around and headed back the way they’d come “One more trip should do it,” Callahan told Cody laconically as they passed him, “if you help”

Cody chuckled silently to himself as he followed Callahan out As clearly as if Nick D’Arcy was standing beside hi the show six years ago, but this is your case now The extent of his involvement is at your discretion

At so to have to draw the other s stood But not in front of witnesses He owed Callahan that much Callahan had saved his life after Mandy had shot hih he’d known by then that Cody had once slept with her

She hadn’t been Callahan’s wife at the time, but Cody knew that hadn’t ive Saving Cody’s life despite that said a lot about Callahan’s integrity Orto fear from Cody where Mandy was concerned

Cody acknowledged there was probably more than a hint of truth in that assessment Mandy had never loved him and never would He’d known it even when he’d o that New Year’s Day But desperate s, he reminded himself